Binge Eating Disorder: What Is It Called When People Eat Too Much?

December 20, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. This serious mental health condition is what is called when people eat too much and feel out of control, not merely overindulging occasionally like at a holiday dinner. Understanding the distinction between occasional overeating and this chronic disorder is the first step toward seeking help.

Quick Summary

This article explores the difference between normal overeating and binge eating disorder (BED). It defines BED and other related eating behaviors, outlines the psychological and biological triggers, details the significant health complications, and discusses effective treatment options.

Key Points

Binge Eating Disorder (BED): This is the clinical term for what is called when people eat too much in a chronic, out-of-control, and distressing pattern.
Not About Willpower: BED is a mental illness influenced by complex factors, including genetics and neurobiology, not a personal failing or lack of self-control.
Emotional Triggers: Many individuals use food as a coping mechanism for difficult emotions like stress, sadness, and boredom, leading to emotional eating.
Hidden Behavior: Due to feelings of shame and guilt, binge eating is often done in secret, making it hard for friends and family to notice.
Serious Health Risks: Untreated BED can lead to significant physical health complications, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and digestive issues.
Effective Treatment Exists: Recovery is possible through professional help, including various forms of psychotherapy like CBT, nutritional counseling, and support groups.

Distinguishing Occasional Overeating from Binge Eating Disorder

Almost everyone occasionally overeats, whether it's at a holiday gathering or enjoying a favorite meal. However, this is distinctly different from the condition known as Binge Eating Disorder (BED), which is what is called when people eat too much in a way that is persistent, distressing, and feels out of control. Occasional overeating is a conscious, finite decision, while BED episodes involve consuming an unusually large quantity of food in a discrete period, often with a feeling of being unable to stop.

What Exactly Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge Eating Disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food, accompanied by a sense of a lack of control. Unlike bulimia nervosa, individuals with BED do not engage in regular compensatory behaviors like purging (e.g., self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise) to offset the food consumed. The behavior is often carried out in secret due to intense feelings of shame, guilt, and disgust.

Psychological and Biological Triggers

Multiple factors can contribute to the development of BED, including psychological distress, biological predispositions, and environmental influences.

Common Triggers and Causes:

Emotional Regulation: Food is often used as a coping mechanism to numb or manage difficult emotions such as stress, sadness, anxiety, or boredom.
History of Dieting: Restrictive dieting can paradoxically increase the urge to binge eat. Severely limiting calories or eliminating food groups can lead to feelings of deprivation, triggering a binge-restrict cycle.
Genetics and Neurobiology: A genetic component is thought to play a role, as BED can run in families. Neurobiological factors, such as imbalances in hormones that regulate hunger and fullness (like ghrelin and leptin), also contribute.
Body Image and Self-Esteem: Negative body image, low self-esteem, and social pressures can fuel binge-eating episodes. The shame and guilt associated with the behavior can further worsen these feelings, creating a vicious cycle.

Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

Identifying BED can be difficult as individuals often feel embarrassed and hide their behavior. Look for a combination of behavioral and emotional indicators.

Behavioral Signs:
- Eating large amounts of food rapidly, often past the point of being full.
- Eating alone or in secret due to embarrassment.
- Hoarding food in unusual places.
- Frequently dieting without lasting results, or frequent unexplained weight fluctuations.
- Organizing life around bingeing episodes.
Psychological Signs:
- Feeling a lack of control during a binge.
- Intense feelings of guilt, disgust, or depression after overeating.
- Constant preoccupation with food and weight.
- Low confidence and negative self-perception.
- Increased anxiety and social isolation.

Comparison of Overeating and Binge Eating


Feature	Occasional Overeating	Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Control	Feeling of control over the eating process.	Profound and persistent feeling of loss of control.
Frequency	Infrequent and situation-specific, e.g., holidays.	Recurring pattern, at least once a week for three months or more.
Quantity of Food	May eat a little extra, but not an unusually large amount in one sitting.	Consumes an objectively large amount of food in a discrete time period.
Emotional Aftermath	May feel some mild guilt or discomfort.	Intense feelings of shame, guilt, disgust, and depression.
Eating Behavior	Often in social settings, with normal speed.	Often alone, in secret, and very rapidly.
Impact on Life	Minimal, temporary impact on mood or function.	Significant distress and interference with daily life.

Serious Health Complications

Left untreated, BED can lead to a host of significant mental and physical health issues. The health risks are often linked to weight gain and obesity, but the disorder itself can cause profound psychological distress.

Physical Effects:

Metabolic Disorders: A higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and high cholesterol.
Cardiovascular Issues: Elevated blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Digestive Problems: Abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal issues are common.
Sleep Disturbances: Sleep apnea and insomnia can arise, negatively affecting overall health.

Psychological Effects:

Depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders are frequently associated with BED.
Low self-esteem, poor body image, and a heightened risk of suicidal ideation are also significant concerns.

Pathways to Recovery and Treatment Options

Recovery from Binge Eating Disorder is possible with appropriate support. The most effective treatment plans are comprehensive, addressing both the behavioral patterns and the underlying emotional and psychological triggers.

Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often recommended to help individuals identify and change the thought patterns and behaviors that lead to bingeing. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) can also be effective by focusing on improving relationships and social functioning.
Medication: Antidepressants or other medications may be prescribed to manage co-occurring conditions like anxiety and depression.
Nutritional Counseling: A registered dietitian with experience in eating disorders can help establish a regular, balanced eating pattern and reconnect individuals with their natural hunger and fullness cues.
Support Groups: Group therapy or support groups can provide a sense of community and reduce the feelings of isolation and shame often experienced with BED.

Conclusion It is crucial to recognize that the term for regularly and uncontrollably eating too much is Binge Eating Disorder, a serious and diagnosable mental illness, not a lack of willpower. Differentiating between occasional overeating and BED is the first step toward understanding the problem. With a combination of psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and support, individuals can break the cycle of binge eating and work toward a healthier relationship with food and their body. If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out to a healthcare professional or an eating disorder specialist is a vital step toward a better quality of life. InsideOut Institute offers numerous resources and information on eating disorders for those seeking further help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Emotional eating is using food to cope with feelings, while binge eating is a clinical disorder defined by recurrent episodes of consuming large, uncontrolled amounts of food. All binge eating is emotional eating, but not all emotional eating is a clinical disorder.

Restrictive dieting is a significant risk factor for developing BED. The deprivation and intense hunger caused by dieting can trigger binge-eating episodes in a vicious binge-restrict cycle.

Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting people of all racial and ethnic groups, with the average age of onset around 25.

No, BED affects people of all body sizes and weights. While many with BED are overweight, a person's weight is not a diagnostic criterion, and individuals can be at a normal weight or underweight.

Untreated BED can lead to long-term health complications, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, gallbladder disease, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Yes, recovery from BED is possible with the right professional support and treatment. It is a treatable condition, and many individuals achieve lasting wellness.

If you frequently eat unusually large amounts of food rapidly, feel out of control during episodes, and experience intense shame or guilt afterward, it may be a sign of BED. Consulting a healthcare provider or eating disorder specialist is the best way to get a proper assessment.